Coaches

TerryMalone

The leader of a position group that has been a productive component of an offense that has ranked among the NFL’s top units since 2006, Tight Ends Coach Terry Malone enters his ninth season in New Orleans. He brings over three decades of coaching experience to his post, including two stints as an offensive coordinator.

The leader of a position group that has been a productive component of an offense that has ranked among the NFL’s top units since 2006, Tight Ends Coach Terry Malone enters his ninth season in New Orleans. He brings over three decades of coaching experience to his post, including two stints as an offensive coordinator.

The club’s platoon of tight ends have been solid and consistent as both receivers and blockers under Malone’s tutelage.

Malone’s work over four years with Jimmy Graham has been pivotal. Since being drafted in 2010, Graham has posted 301 receptions for 3,863 yards (12.8 avg.) with 41 touchdowns. The 41 scoring grabs are tied for fourth by an NFL player through their first four seasons.

In 2013, Graham was voted to the Pro Bowl for the second time. He amassed his second-highest total as a Saints with 86 receptions for 1,215 yards and a club-record and NFL-best 16 touchdowns. The touchdown grab total was the second-highest all-time at the position The reception and yardage totals also ranked first among NFL tight ends. His six 100-yard receiving games tied the club record and also tied the NFL record for a tight end. His four straight games with 100 yards receiving also tied a league mark for the position. Malone also integrated 10-year NFL veteran Benjamin Watson, who made 19 receptions for 226 yards and two touchdowns and undrafted rookie Josh Hill, who had six grabs for 44 yards and one score into the offense.

In 2012, Graham amassed 85 receptions (third-highest by all NFL tight ends) for 982 yards and nine touchdowns. In 2011, Malone helped him produce one of the most prolific campaigns for an NFL tight end with a franchise-record 99 receptions for 1,310 yards and 11 touchdown grabs, with 74 of his catches moving the chains to lead the club in first downs. Among NFL tight ends all-time, the yardage total is ranked second and receptions total is tied for fourth. In 2010, the Saints were the only team with three tight ends with at least 30 catches. Malone played a pivotal role in Graham’s development as a rookie. Despite playing only one season of college football, he finished with 31 receptions for 356 yards and five touchdowns.

In 2009, Malone integrated David Thomas into the offense quickly following a Week one trade. He responded with 35 grabs for 356 yards with one touchdown to team with Jeremy Shockey, who had 48 receptions for 569 yards with three touchdowns, scoring two more times in the playoffs, including the go-ahead touchdown grab in Super Bowl XLIV. Both tight ends played a key role in the blocking scheme for the NFL’s sixth-ranked rushing offense.

Malone’s work with tight ends has a long history. He worked at the University of Michigan from 1997-2005, including his final four seasons as the Wolverines’ offensive coordinator/tight ends. During Malone’s nine seasons, Michigan won five Big 10 championships and appeared in eight New Year’s Day bowl games.

In his tenure as coordinator the school had 14 All-Big Ten selections and four All-Americans. The Wolverines had back-to-back conference Player of the Year winners on offense (running back Chris Perry, 2003 and wide receiver Braylon Edwards, 2004). In 2004, the offense ranked second in the Big Ten and 24th in the nation in scoring by averaging over 30 points per contest. The Wolverines were led by Rimington Trophy co-recipient David Baas and Edwards, who won the Biletnikoff Award as the country’s top receiver. Quarterback Chad Henne became the first true freshman in Big Ten history to lead his squad to a conference title and was the first to start a Rose Bowl.

In 2003, Malone was named a finalist for the Broyles Award, recognizing the top college assistant. It was a fitting honor, as the Wolverines tied for 12th nationally in scoring (35.4 avg.) and 15th in total offense (446.7 avg.) while setting school records in every passing category. Michigan led the Big Ten in passing (270.8 avg.) for the first time since 1948 and set school marks for total yards (5,807) en route to the conference title.

Malone began his years at Michigan as offensive line coach, with the Wolverines winning the 1997 national title in his first season. His line allowed a conference-low 18 sacks. He remained in that position until being promoted to offensive coordinator after the 2001 season. Michigan’s front line had three NFL draft picks in 2001, including first round draft picks Steve Hutchinson and Jeff Backus and second-rounder Maurice Williams. The line paved the way for running back Anthony Thomas to break all of the Wolverines’ rushing yardage and touchdowns records.

Two Malone-coached players were recognized as the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year: Jon Jansen (1997) and Hutchinson (2000). Hutchinson became just the fourth player in conference history to earn All-Big Ten first team honors after all four years.

Malone arrived at Ann Arbor after spending 1996 as offensive line coach at Boston College on the staff of Head Coach Dan Henning. Prior to that season, Malone served as offensive line coach, tight ends coach, and offensive coordinator at Bowling Green from 1986-95, where he was a part of two squads to win MAC Conference championships and subsequent bowl games. Before returning to his alma mater, Holy Cross, in 1985 to tutor the tight ends, Malone opened his coaching career as a graduate assistant at the University of Arizona, under the late Larry Smith.

A native of Redford, Mich., Malone attended The College of The Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass. and played four seasons at tight end. Malone was the Crusaders’ captain as a senior. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Holy Cross (1983). Malone and his family volunteer at the Covington Food Bank and are active parishioners at the Most Holy Trinity Church in Covington. The Malones served as operations chairs for capital campaigns at both Most Holy Trinity and St. Scholastica High School. Malone also enjoys providing faith-based motivational talks to local groups.

Related Videos

Saints defensive ends Cameron Jordan and Kasim Edebali, and former Saints running back Deuce McAllister, honor former teammate Will Smith by continuing his annual charity "Santa with the Smiths" at the Kingsley House in New Orleans (New Orleans Saints Video)